During an interview on US political comedy show The Colbert Report, presenter Steven Colbert said to Gates: "People say "what a cool guy, what a cool guy Steve Jobs was." You are out there saving the world and yet, you don't have the cool factor, no offense, not the same turtleneck cool factor."

"As a man who has contributed a great deal, does it ever bug you that you are out there saving the world and yet he has the memories a cool guy?" Colbert asked.

"He was always cooler than me," Gates replied. "He was brilliant, He had his own style, his own approach and mine is a little geekier than his was."

Gates, who is currently chairman of Microsoft, also confessed that he misses the early days at the company.

"I miss the intensity," he said. "It was phenomenally fun. For my 20s, 30s, 40s, it was the coolest thing I've ever done."